Find out why you might need a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) and how to get one.
Mandatory Inclusion of Natural Hazard Information
The Local Government (Natural Hazard Information in Land Information Memoranda) Regulations 2025 (the Regulations) came into force on 17 October 2025. They outline how natural hazard information should be included in a LIM/provided by regional councils to territorial authorities. There will be some changes you’ll see in the LIM report if it is applicable to the property in question.
- Natural Hazard section
- Technical Reports
- Natural hazard information provided by regional councils as per the Regulations
- Information about notices under sections 73 and 133BT of the Building Act 2004, and specified predecessors
From 1 July 2025, new Government rules will change what natural hazard information is included and how it is shown in LIMs. Councils will be required to include information about natural hazards in LIMs, even if the hazard information is from other agencies (e.g., regional councils or central government).
This includes hazards such as:
- flooding
- erosion
- landslides
- coastal inundation and sea level rise
- earthquake and liquefaction risk
A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is a report you can get on a residential or commercial property. Most people order LIMs before they buy or sell a home. It's part of the due diligence process and it can help you streamline the sale process with one less condition on the sale.
Example LIM Report (PDF 35MB)
Council can only provide information that it holds on record. If the property has had building work done without consent, flooding, slippage, meth contamination or other issues that we’re not aware of – it might not show on the LIM.
A LIM includes:
- current Certificate of Title
- deposited plan
- building permit and building consent plans
- plumbing and drainage plans
- any Code Compliance Certificates that Council holds
- resource consents
- district Plan information (activity areas/zones, protected trees, historic sites, designations and significant archaeological, natural or cultural resources)
- hazard information (reported flooding, slipping, erosion and past contamination)
- rates information
- weathertight homes information (leaky buildings)
- earthquake-prone status of buildings.
- tsunami zones
- rubbish collection day
- private swimming pool information
- notices issued to the property (noise, unconsented work etc.)
- encroachments
- methamphetamine (meth) contamination.
LIMs are completed within 10 working days after the day you apply. If you apply after close of business, your application will be processed the following working day.
Working Days:
Working days do not include Saturday and Sunday, Wellington Anniversary Day, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, King's Birthday, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki/Matariki Observance Day, or Labour Day. If Waitangi Day or Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday the following Monday is not a working day.
Working days also exclude any day in the period commencing with 20 December of any year and ending with 10 January in the following year.
Note: Due to a high volume of LIM requests Fast-track LIMs are not currently available.
For residential properties, you can request a fast-track service for an additional fee. This speeds up the turnaround to 5 working days, instead of the standard 10 days.
Conditions apply for fast-track applications. Sometimes we need to withdraw the fast-track service if we receive a lot of applications at once. We'll let you know if we can't fast-track it.
All fees include GST.
| Service | 2025-2026 Fee | 2026-2027 Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Residential property LIM - sent electronically, if you request a hard copy an additional fee will apply | $500.00 | $515.00 |
| Commercial property LIM (base fee - includes 8 hours processing time) | $1,280.00 | $1,315.00 |
| Additional processing (per hour) | $210.00 | $215.00 |
| Fast Track - processed within five working days (conditions apply, applications will be accepted on a case-by-case basis) - Residential only | $825.00 when available | $850.00 when available |
|
Completed LIM your LIM will be sent electronically. A fee will apply for a hard copy | ||
| Hard copy fee | $60.00 | $62.00 |
Note: These are the fees and charges for 2026-27. Fees and charges for dog registration are confirmed by Council and will be used for invoicing in advance of the 2026-27 financial year starting in July.
LIM/Property Information terms and late payment
Initial fees and additional fees
Fees must be paid before applications are processed and work is undertaken by Council. Further charges will be invoiced for disbursements and if additional time is spent processing the application.
If your application is withdrawn a refund may be given based on the amount of time already spent processing the LIM.
Terms of payment
Payment of additional processing, administration, and disbursements shall be made before the application is issued.
Late payment will incur:
- an additional administrative fee (10% of the overdue amount)
- all costs and expenses (including debt collection or legal fees) associated with recovery of the overdue amount.
LIM Application fee refunds
If your application is withdrawn a refund may be given based on the amount of time already spent processing the LIM. Fast Track applications are not eligible for refunds.
If you’d like to cancel the processing of your LIM, let us know as soon as possible by emailing lim.reports@huttcity.govt.nz.
If your application is withdrawn a refund may be given based on the amount of time already spent processing the LIM.
Current LIM refunds effective from 28 August 2024
Note: No refund will be given once the LIM report is issued
| Residential and Commercial LIMs | |
|---|---|
| Cancellation of application within 24 hours of payment | Full refund |
| Cancellation of application between 1-3 days of payment | 50% refund |
| Cancellation of application between 4-6 days of payment | 37.5% refund |
| Cancellation of application between 7-10 days of payment | No refund |
You can order a LIM online. All you need is the address and a way to pay the fee.
You can pay for a LIM:
- by secure online payment on our website (includes credit card and bank account payment)
- in person at Council's main building 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt.
We send out electronic copies that you can print if you need to.
LIMs are completed within 10 working days after the day you apply. If you apply after close of business, your application will be processed the following working day.
Working days do not include:
- weekends
- public holidays
- the period between 20 December and 10 January.
Contact details
- Email: LIM.reports@huttcity.govt.nz
- Telephone: Phone: 4 570 6666 | 0800 HUTT CITY (24/7 - 7 Days)